Kamala Harris stresses women empowerment, digital inclusion & good governance as key to Africa’s growth

Vice President of the United States of America, Kamala Harris has identified women empowerment, digital inclusion, good governance and democracy as key element that will hasten Africa’s economic growth.

Addressing youth and women at a public lecture at the Black Stars in Accra on Tuesday, 28 March 2023, Kamala Harris said the world must be international in empowering women to make progress.

She said the youth form the bulk of Africa’s population and with innovation, they can solve the world’s problems.

She told a crowd of young people gathered at the Black Stars square that “We need to be international and make progress in these three key areas – the empowerment of women, digital inclusion and good governance and democracy all of which is a focus of my visit to the continent and going forward, and all of which has the potential to create eve more innovation, innovation that will unlock new jobs, new industries and exponential growth.”

“So let us agree women around the world must be able to fully participate in economic, political and social lives and they must be able to participate equally including in leadership roles, it is a key to maximizing global growth and opportunities.”

Despite the knowledge that including women in leadership positions is key to global growth, she bemoaned, however, that “we see gender disparities around the world including the United States, disparities we must all address.”

Citing an example, she noted that on the continent of Africa “we know women grow a majority of the food yet they are less likely to own the land they farm. They represent a majority of frontline healthcare workers but face disparities in healthcare outcomes.”

“Women are entrepreneurs yet have limited access to capital and markets, they are peace makers and bridge buildings yet continue to be underrepresented at tables where decisions are being made. And there are many factors that impact a woman’s ability to survive and thrive, one of those is economic empowerment, and when we lift up the economic status of a woman let’s be clear we lift up the economic status of her children, her family, her community, the entire economy benefits.”

Vice President Harris stated that the United States of America will work alongside her partners each and every day to close gender gaps in Ghana and around the world and ultimately “our believe is that the empowerment of women is rooted in the concept of freedom not just freedom from violence or want but freedom to create one’s own future, a freedom we desire for all people.”